The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-15
NEGRO SUPERSTITION.
Voudoo Doctors and the Traffic In Human
Bones-Good and Bad Signs.

Brooklyn CitIZen-
| The belief has prevailed among the Southern
| negroes for many years that the hand of dead
| friend will bring continued prosperity to its
possessor, and no doubt IL the many colored
grave-yards in that section were made to give up
their dead the skeletons of not few would be
found to be minus the right hand. The South
ern blacks also believe that the big toe of
deceased friend, carried the person, will keep
away disease. and that the toes of an enemy can
be used charms to conjure their living
enemies. Thus it is they originated the lines:
''Wid di. honey toe
Ill bring dem VICE.
Fore daylight in de mornin'."
Voudoo doctors-and there are plenty of them
IN the Southern States-carry extensive
traffic in human bones and other portions of the
body. They use the skull to perform mystic
ceremony for the sick. or to bring luck to pow
erty-stricken family; the ears are employed in
another ceremony. the outcome of which IS to
find out what your enemies saying about
you. and the other bones all have a mission to
perform while the voudoo is humbuggiLg his
victim. The voudoo doctor is usually natu-
rally smart darby, with good flow of
versation. and as much inventive genius as a
Bowery confidence man. In Washington of late
the voudoos have become rather scarce as the
police arrest them as Migrants whenever they
put in appearance.
The country negroes in South Carolina,
Georgia and portions of Florida have a very
pretty and somewhat poeticai superstition
During the stiffness of the night. when the
gently swaying pine trees singing their
wierd requiems whole families will SIT about
their cabin doors and listen intenty to this
music of the forest In its changing melody
they hear the voices of dead friends predicting
good or evil for the future revealing secrets
of the tomb.
No reward could induce the negro surfmen on
the North Carolina coast to walk along the
beach at night, especially during storm, when
the lightning is flashing and the hugh white
capped breakers come spluttering in the
sandy beach. They imagine they in the
phosphorescent light the forms of sailors who
lost at sea, riding in astride of the huge bill
lows. On account of this superstition it has
haa fan INN f1a 70 inAu fho
men to enter the life-saving SERVICE matter
how we'll adapted they may be for the work.
The tedious night patrol along the desolate sea-
shore is what they object to. The average
shore negro would almost rather die than to
counter the vague form of departed sailor man
in the surf or tho beach.
There are many minor suDerstitions among
the coored people If cow stops in front of
house and bellows it is sure sign that some one
on the premises will die. If the bellows
twice the party marked for dissolution will die
in two days, two weeks or two months. Should
the animal below five times, which is a rare oc-
currence, "a death will occur in less than
week. When a cock enters the house and crows
therein. it means that the family will have visit
ors To crow just outside tho door indicates
that the residents of the house will be suddenly
called away on a mission. Sometimes over
fed hen will make a sound which resembles the
faint Growing of young rooster. This is
regarded an evil omen, and the luckless hen
is always decapitated when it's owner is at all
superstitious. Scientists say the sound is
caused by indigestion. The darkeys have a
i
IA whistlng
And a Growing hen
Will never
To any good end"
The owl usually boots three times. When
this uncanny bird forgets itself and increases
the humber of boots to four five the planta-
ton negroes regard it omen of sickness.
starvation or death. To kill cat that
the person who did the killing will have seven
years of bad luck. To catch a water-snake on
your fishing line is sign that your
mics are trying TO entrap and kill you. Thus
the negroes say: =.
Catch snake,
Let him go,
For death is a-comin'
Sho and sho.'
To flock of crows lowering about your
house is very bad sign, and to drop your Bible
while going to church indicates that the devil is
after you. To see three white horses at the
same time is omen Of death, and to find
toad frog in your path is certain sign that
marriage will shortly take place in your family.
The average Southern darky sees an omen for
good or evil in nearly every animate and mani
mate object. and they believe in these omens
almost "a relipiously thew do in the Ribe